System and method for supplying uninterruptible power to a PoE device

• US 9,385,562 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BTU Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: BTU Research, LLC
• Inventors: Kanarellis, Michael, Darr, Thomas, Blackmore, Austin, Gardner, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Amaya, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US14/135,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20150180276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/00 Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for supplying uninterruptible power include a housing, a power supply input, a power source equipment input, a powered device output, an alternative power supply, and a control module. The control module includes a comparator, a switch, and an injector. A PoE powered device connects to the powered device output by Ethernet cable, and power source equipment connects to the power source equipment input. The control module connects the power supply input, the power source equipment input, the powered device output, and the alternative power supply. The power source equipment is powered separate from the power supply input. When the comparator detects sufficient power from the power supply unit, the switch directs power from the power supply input to the powered device. When the comparator detects insufficient power from the power supply unit, the switch instantaneously directs power from the alternative power supply to the powered device.

Claims

1. A system for supplying uninterruptible power, comprising:

a housing;

a power supply input disposed within said housing, said power supply input having a PS interface on an outside of said housing;

a power source equipment input disposed within said housing, said power source equipment input having a PSE interface on an outside of said housing;

a powered device output disposed within said housing, said powered device output having a PD interface on an outside of said housing;

an alternative power supply disposed within said housing;

a powered device connected to said powered device output by an Ethernet cable;

power source equipment connected to said power source equipment input, said power source equipment being powered separate from said power supply input and said alternative power supply; and

a control module connected to said power supply input, said power source equipment input, said powered device output, and said alternative power supply, said control module being comprised of an injector means, a comparator means, and a switch means, said injector means connecting said power source equipment input, said power supply input, and said alternative power supply to said powered device output, said comparator means detecting power from said power supply input and to said powered device output, said switch means connecting said power supply input and said alternative power supply to said injector means.

2. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 1, wherein said control module further comprises a converter means connected between said injector means and said power supply input.

3. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 1, said alternative power supply being comprised of a chemically activated recharging power source.

4. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 1, said injector means being comprised of a load circuit, said load circuit storing power from at least one of said power supply input, said power source equipment input and said alternative power supply, said load circuit distributing power to said powered device output,

wherein said comparator means monitors voltage of said load circuit,

wherein said control module has a first mode of operation for supplying power to said powered device from said power supply input, a second mode of operation for supplying power to said powered device from said alternative power supply, a third mode of operation for supplying power to said powered device from said power source equipment input, a fourth mode of operation for supplying power to said alternative power supply from said power supply input, a fifth mode of operation for supplying power to said alternative power supply from said power source equipment input,

wherein the first mode and the fourth mode are not concurrent with the second mode, and

wherein said switch means manages the modes of operation of said control module.

5. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 1, said injector means connecting said power source equipment input to said powered device so as to distribute data between said power source equipment and said powered device.

6. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 1, said injector means distributing power to said powered device at a distribution range between 12 VDC and 24 VDC.

7. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 4, said comparator means activating said switch means when voltage of said load circuit of said injector means falls outside a threshold range.

8. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 7, said comparator means having an initialization mode and sending a initialization signal to said switch means,

wherein said initialization signal triggers said switch means to change supplying power to said load circuit from said power supply input to said alternate power supply, said control module switching from the first mode to the second mode.

9. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 7, said comparator means detecting voltage of said power supply input, said comparator means activating said switch means when voltage of said power supply input is sufficient to supply power to said load circuit within said threshold range, said comparator means having a reinitialization mode and sending a reinitialization signal to said switch means,

wherein said reinitialization signal triggers said switch means to change supplying power to said load circuit from said alternative power supply to said power supply input, said control module switching from the second mode to the first mode.

10. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 9, said comparator means comprising at least one diode connected to said power supply input;

and a diode circuit coupled to said at least one diode, said diode circuit defining said threshold range of said injector means.

11. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 7, said comparator means further comprising a thermal protection switch to initiate a power shutdown in response to a thermal overload event.

12. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 4, said switch means alternating instantaneously between supplying power to said injector means by said power supply input and said alternative power supply.

13. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 12, said switch means being comprised of a diode circuit with at least one circuit input connected to said power supply input and at least one circuit input connected to said alternative power supply.

14. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 2, said converter means receiving power from an AC power source and transmitting converted DC power to said control module, said converter means being connected between said power supply input and said injector means so as to provide DC power from an AC source connected to said power supply input.

15. The system for supplying uninterruptible power, according to claim 1, wherein said power source equipment is comprised of a network and a network cable with at least one network input and network output so as to provide data and power to said power source equipment input, and wherein said network output is comprised of a cable supply terminals, said cable supply terminals being two 22-28 AWG conductor output supply terminals.

16. A method of supplying uninterruptible power, said method comprising:

providing a system according to claim 1;

monitoring voltage at said injector means with said comparator means;

supplying power from said power supply input to said powered device through said injector means;

detecting insufficient power at said injector means by said comparator means;

switching power to said powered device from said power supply input to said alternative power supply;

monitoring voltage at said power supply unit after the step of switching from said power supply unit to said alternative power supply;

detecting sufficient power from said power supply input with said comparator means; and

switching power to said powered device from said alternative power supply to said power supply input.

17. The method for supply uninterruptible power, according to claim 16, wherein the step of detecting insufficient power is comprised of detecting voltage outside of a threshold range, and wherein the step of detecting sufficient power is comprised of detecting voltage to maintain said injector means within said threshold range.

18. The method for supply uninterruptible power, according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

supplying power from said power source equipment input to said powered device through said injector means.

19. The method for supply uninterruptible power, according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

supplying power from said power source equipment input to said alternative power supply through said injector means.

20. The method for supply uninterruptible power, according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

supplying power from said power supply input to said alternative power supply through said injector means.